OEI Programs
Rural Energy Startup Program Round 2
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The OEI is continuing to accept applications in the PSC Grant System. Applications will be reviewed, and eligible projects will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis while funds remain. Limited funding remains available.
- To learn more about RESP Round 2 Awards or to apply for the remaining available funds, visit the link below.
Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates
- The holidays are around the corner, making it the perfect time to take advantage of the Home Electrification and Appliance (HEAR) rebate program!
- The projects that can be completed through HEAR include:
- ENERGY STAR® electric heat pumps for space heating and cooling
- ENERGY STAR heat pump water heaters
- ENERGY STAR electric cooktops and ranges
- Electrical panels and wiring
- Insulation and air sealing
- The equipment that can be purchased through participating retailers includes:
- ENERGY STAR electric heat pump water heater (contractor install and through retail purchase)
- ENERGY STAR electric cooktops and ranges (retail purchase only)
- ENERGY STAR heat pump clothes dryer (retail purchase only)
- To learn more about Wisconsin's HOMES and HEAR programs, including eligibility requirements, eligible projects, eligible appliances, and which retailers are participating, visit the link below.
Focus on Energy
- In 2025, Focus on Energy awarded 11 outstanding Wisconsin businesses, organizations, agribusinesses, and program partners for their commitment to saving energy.
- These businesses and organizations go above and beyond basic energy efficiency measures to implement impactful and sustainable solutions.
- To see the full list of 2025 Energy Efficiency Excellence Awardees and to view the success stories on YouTube, visit the links below
Energy News and Research
OEI Launches Heat Pump Technical Assistance Page
- The Office of Energy Innovation recently launched its “Heat Pump” technical assistance page to support stakeholders looking to learn more about heat pumps.
- The website overviews heat pump basics, advantages of heat pumps, cold climate heat pumps, heat pump technology in other appliances, and provides rebate and incentive tables for customers looking invest in heat pump technology.
- To visit the page and learn about heat pumps and explore available rebates and incentives, visit the link below.
Wisconsin’s Rollout of EV Fast Charging Infrastructure
- On November 17, 2025, Governor Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announced 26 additional locations will receive grant awards totaling $14 million in federal funding to build electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Wisconsin as part of the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program.
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This latest round of awards fills coverage gaps after the first round of awards was announced in May 2024. Through the first two rounds of awards, WisDOT has awarded more than $36.4 million for a total of 78 projects.
- WisDOT has created the WEVI Charging Station Dashboard to display the sites awarded through the WEVI Program for Level 3 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations.
- As of November, there are 11 operational locations:
- Twin Gables Café Lounge, 13992 E US HWY 2, Brule, WI
- Kwik Trip, 1814 Lake Shore Dr W, Ashland, WI
- Culvers, 620 W Kemp St, Rhinelander, WI
- Exxon, 530 State Hwy 180, Wausaukee, WI
- FairBridge Inn Express, 800 College Ave, Ladysmith, WI
- Kwik Trip, 1267 Chippewa Crossing Blvd, Chippewa Falls, WI
- Kwik Trip, 319 Oak Ave, Menomonie, WI
- Kwik Trip, 1125 George St W, La Crosse, WI
- Kwik Trip, 9255 Ridgeview Rd, Mount Horeb, WI
- Sleep Inn & Suites, 3912 Motel Rd, Sheboygan, WI
- Kwik Trip, 10215 120th Ave, Pleasant Prairie, WI
- Wisconsin has the second-most operational NEVI stations in the Midwest, behind Ohio which has 19, as of November 2025.
- The total number of EV chargers continues to grow in Wisconsin, as of November 17, 2025, there are 817 stations with 2,118 charging ports across the state. Source: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
- If you are interested in an EV charger rebate for your home or business, OEI maintains a list of all EV Charger Rebate Programs on this page: PSC Transportation
- To read the full press release from Governor Evers and to learn more about the WEVI program and view WisDOT’s dashboard, visit the links below.
Funding Opportunities
2026 Energy Equity for Renters Technical Assistance Application
- The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is providing a new round of technical assistance services to local governments and their community-based organization (CBO) partners to support active or planned work to analyze the rental market, conduct community engagement, determine possible rental energy efficiency policy options, and implement these initiatives.
- Technical assistance will primarily focus on growing local governments and CBOs’ knowledge, resources, planning and evaluation procedures, and information sharing with one another. Technical Assistance services will be able to:
- Guide quantitative and qualitative research assessing rental housing and renters’ most pressing needs.
- Support community and stakeholder engagement processes with deliverables such as summaries of best and merging practices, lists of survey questions, and guidance for identifying and contacting rental property owners and residents.
- Conduct scans of existing government policies/programs to identify new or expanded opportunities for reducing rental home energy use.
- Produce guidance that supports the equitable implementation of rental energy efficiency policies and programs.
- Applications for technical assistance are due by Friday, January 9, 2026.
- To learn more about the ACEEE’s technical assistance offering and to apply, visit the links below.
Clean Energy Group’s Technical Assistance Fund
- The Technical Assistance Fund (TAF) supports community-serving organizations interested in pursuing solar+storage by providing them with information about available funding avenues and revenue streams; technology siting, sizing, and configurations; and other project development guidance.
- The program is open to all US-based community-serving organizations.
- Projects must directly serve low-income communities, communities of color, environmental justice communities, or communities directly harmed by existing fossil-fuel infrastructure.
- Past recipients have included community centers, emergency shelters, cooling centers, affordable housing, food pantries, fire departments, municipalities, and health clinics.
- To learn more about the Technical Assistance Fund and apply, visit the link below.
Grantee Corner
- The end of the quarter, December 31, 2025, is fast approaching and for some grantees that might also be the grant agreement end date. If this is the end date of your grant agreement, and your project will not be completed by this date, please contact your grant coordinator to request a time extension.
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